Economic Development

City Planning

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Project History

Proposed Project

Located within the Stapleton Redevelopment Area, the proposed Central Park Boulevard interchange would provide additional I-70 access and a connection to Central Park Boulevard, a north/south arterial through the Stapleton Redevelopment area.

Project Background

The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) and the City and County of Denver (CCD) are conducting the I-70 East Corridor Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), which is considering improvements to I-70 between I-25 and Tower Road. When the EIS began in 2003, the Central Park Boulevard Interchange, which is called for in the Stapleton Redevelopment Area development plan, was expected to be approved as part of the EIS. As part of the on-going EIS process, the new interchange at Central Park Boulevard has been studied and is planned as a future connection to the Stapleton Redevelopment Area.Project Area (Project Location and Study Area Map)

Redevelopment of the 4,700-acre Stapleton site as one of the nation’s largest urban mixed-use in-fill developments began in May 2001. When completed, Stapleton will house a projected 30,000 residents and provide employment for a projected 35,000 workers.

South of I-70, the Stapleton development is rapidly building with completion of many new neighborhoods, parks, schools and commercial and retail centers, such as the Quebec Square regional retail center and the E. 29th Avenue Town Center.

North of I-70, The Shops at Northfield Stapleton, a 1.2 million square foot “lifestyle retail center” opened in October 2006, bringing to Northeast Denver a Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World, a Super Target, JC Penney and Main Street retail anchored by a Macy’s Department Store and Harkins Theatres. North of 56th Avenue lies the recently constructed Dick’s Sporting Goods Park, more than 20 soccer fields, the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge Visitors Center and the new Commerce City civic center building. Planned future phases of the development north of I-70 include a DenverPublic School, additional commercial/retail development, new parks, and open space.

A public hearing for the I-70/Central Park Boulevard project was held on June 25, 2009 at the Radisson Hotel. A brief presentation about the project was given and comments were received from the public. In addition, comments on the Environmental Assessment (EA) were received through July 8, 2009.

On August 3, 2009, a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) was signed by the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). With the FONSI, CDOT and FHWA state that the EA has determined that the project need, environmental issues, impacts, and appropriate mitigation measures were adequately addressed and that the Preferred Alternative will have no significant impacts to the human or natural environment.

The signing of the FONSI started the final process to obligate American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funds for the Interchange project. On August 20, 2009, FHWA signed the Federal Aid Agreement that authorizes the use of funds identified for the project through congressional earmarks and an ARRA grant. With the federal funds obligated and the $30M of Better Denver Bond funds for the project, the City issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) to the short listed contractors from the RFQ process. Proposals for the design/build contract were submitted by Contractors in late October and a selection was made in November 2009.

The City issued a Notice to Proceed to SEMA Construction on January 29, 2010 as the project moved into the design phase. The design/build project is anticipated to start construction in June of 2010 and to be open to traffic by November, 2011.